advice needed for younger(college age) player

smokey777

smokey777

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hello everyone,
Im a college student in waco, tx. Im originally from amarillo, tx
I have been seriously attempting to learn to play pool correctly and seriously over the past year. I have earned the nick name "baby shark" among my classmates (to make a long story short on that one. it was determined that I have my moments when not under pressure that I can make really hard shots and sometimes run out 6 or 7 balls in both 8 in 9 ball, but I am not yet able to do it consistently. so that makes me more forgiving than your average pool shark in their eyes) I dont agree with the nickname but it has seemed to stick recently.

As far as game wise I have a deep hate for bank shots. I would rather try some ridiculously thin and long cut than attempt a kick or bank.
other than that I'm in a deep rut for improving my game.
any advice?
 
Lessons

Find a guy named Travis Gunn up in Waco and see if you can buy some of his time. He plays really strong and is easy going enough to not just blow you off.


Check out the live stream links here. Space City Open is on right now.
 
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Make friends with the attendants at the school's pool room (free table time :thumbup:). Browse the Ask an Instructor section. Watch all the youtube matches you can. Read articles. Practice with purpose. Missed a shot? Set it up again and again until you can't get it wrong. Use consistent equipment.
 
If that isn't gonna work, look up tips & tricks on YouTube, write a few notes and practice. I use this on breaks where I am finding in 3 ball, 8 ball, 9 ball, 10 ball and 14.1 are completely different. Banks and kicks aren't rocket science, but you rely a lot on correct English and the condition of the table. Meaning you run the cue off the rail and use hard right English, the cue isn't going where you want. If you have a dead of worn rail, well, good luck baby shark.

Also consistency from one table to the next isn't going to be spot on either.
 
I love joss cues and play with two. Then I have a prather cue that I got from an az member on here. I dont use it much because it has some low deflection qualities im not yet used to. shoots the lights down though.
 
Find a very good player and become friends with him. If he will only get on a table with you for money, he is not your friend. You want to find someone that will impart knowledge to you over the long term, not just until your wallet runs dry.
 
Masayoshi said:
Find a very good player and become friends with him. If he will only get on a table with you for money, he is not your friend. You want to find someone that will impart knowledge to you over the long term, not just until your wallet runs dry.
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Your expectation of people are to help others at all costs with no financial reward?
 
ChrisBanks said:
Your expectation of people are to help others at all costs with no financial reward?
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I've met quite a few people who will ask me to play every time they see me just to see if I've improved and several who seem generally interested.

Never had any of them ask for a drink even.
 
ddadams said:
I've met quite a few people who will ask me to play every time they see me just to see if I've improved and several who seem generally interested.

Never had any of them ask for a drink even.
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I've really never seen a professional pool player hand out free instructions. Of course they will mention a thing or two from time to time.

I do not expect any pro player, even in my own city, to take an interest in my game and start supplying me with free lessons.
 
be humble and pay attention.. but above all ask questions... The only players that don't get help deserve not getting help based on their attitudes......
 
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ChrisBanks said:
I've really never seen a professional pool player hand out free instructions. Of course they will mention a thing or two from time to time.

I do not expect any pro player, even in my own city, to take an interest in my game and start supplying me with free lessons.
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Maybe you just aren't good enough at making friends. A lot knowledge in pool is passed down to people that good players like rather than the ones that dish out money. From what I have seen, many pros tend to give LESS advice to people who hand them money.
 
Banks

smokey777 said:
hello everyone,
Im a college student in waco, tx. Im originally from amarillo, tx
I have been seriously attempting to learn to play pool correctly and seriously over the past year. I have earned the nick name "baby shark" among my classmates (to make a long story short on that one. it was determined that I have my moments when not under pressure that I can make really hard shots and sometimes run out 6 or 7 balls in both 8 in 9 ball, but I am not yet able to do it consistently. so that makes me more forgiving than your average pool shark in their eyes) I dont agree with the nickname but it has seemed to stick recently.

As far as game wise I have a deep hate for bank shots. I would rather try some ridiculously thin and long cut than attempt a kick or bank.
other than that I'm in a deep rut for improving my game.
any advice?
Click to expand...

The diamonds on the table are there for a reason. They help you figure the 2 to 1 angle..All standard banks....first find the 2 to 1 angle...then cut the shot a tad thinner but hit the ball firmer than the speed it would take to make the bank by shooting a 2 to 1 angle......this cinches the shot and helps you to start understanding how banks act.....when you get that piece hit me up again.....

Just another lovely day in paradise....

336Robin :thumbup:

aimisthegameinpool.com
aimisthegameinpool@yahoo.com
 
find an instructor and take a few lessons
make sure you are developing good fundamentals
easier to develop good habits than have to learn to break bad habits
you wil eventually have to learn how to bank and kick
if you notice most good players dont shoot hard shots most of the time....:D
 
ChrisBanks said:
Your expectation of people are to help others at all costs with no financial reward?
Click to expand...

There are those who do exactly that in many fields including pool. In my experience they tend to be the absolute best as well....but hard to find.



.
 
Something that has not been said but is very important imo is... never be tempted to take any drug in order to play better. IT IS A TRAP, DON'T DO IT!
 
smokey777 said:
hello everyone,
Im a college student in waco, tx. Im originally from amarillo, tx
I have been seriously attempting to learn to play pool correctly and seriously over the past year. I have earned the nick name "baby shark" among my classmates (to make a long story short on that one. it was determined that I have my moments when not under pressure that I can make really hard shots and sometimes run out 6 or 7 balls in both 8 in 9 ball, but I am not yet able to do it consistently. so that makes me more forgiving than your average pool shark in their eyes) I dont agree with the nickname but it has seemed to stick recently.

As far as game wise I have a deep hate for bank shots. I would rather try some ridiculously thin and long cut than attempt a kick or bank.
other than that I'm in a deep rut for improving my game.
any advice?
Click to expand...


Practice. Over and over.

You don't like banks? You are missing a huge part of the playing surface of the table, and a very interesting one. The cushions are dynamic, they compress. Study them, play with them.

Early on, in the mid-eighties, I hated the banks and kicks as well. So I practiced them, over and over. Now when I arrive at a new table it's the first thing I inspect and try out. I became interested in them and practiced my banks so much that it became a very strong point of my game. Watch Reyes some time. Magician? Yeah....he knows cushions.

My game isn't what it used to be at all but sometimes I can see a glimmer of what it was. I know it's there when my banks are on. It just feels right. No system....just a feeling...it's like nothing can stop my bank. When it's right the bank becomes a part of my game that I will plan on rather than avoid. When it's wrong, the banks are closed. :frown:


You can go one of two ways, either continue to avoid it and leave a big fat hole in your game, or you can go after it and learn that playing surface. I highly recommend you just go after it. Practice.


.
 
You being in Waco and all, there are a couple of nice poolhalls in the south part of town (around Valley Mills and New Road) that have tournaments that have some really good players playing in them. You need to play in one every once in a while to judge your improvement. Pool is "alive and well" in that part of the country and you're gonna run into a lot of good players when you venture out away from the university rec room.

Look up AZ'er Bigtruck on the member list, shoot him a PM and he can give you a TON of information about pool in your area (and maybe a good instructor).

Are you at Baylor, McLennan, or TSTC?

Maniac
 
smokey777 said:
hello everyone,
Im a college student in waco, tx. Im originally from amarillo, tx
I have been seriously attempting to learn to play pool correctly and seriously over the past year. I have earned the nick name "baby shark" among my classmates (to make a long story short on that one. it was determined that I have my moments when not under pressure that I can make really hard shots and sometimes run out 6 or 7 balls in both 8 in 9 ball, but I am not yet able to do it consistently. so that makes me more forgiving than your average pool shark in their eyes) I dont agree with the nickname but it has seemed to stick recently.

As far as game wise I have a deep hate for bank shots. I would rather try some ridiculously thin and long cut than attempt a kick or bank.
other than that I'm in a deep rut for improving my game.
any advice?
Click to expand...

I have bad news for you, sorry, it is either you A's college courses or A's pool!! Cannot A's both for the long run.
Pool requires lots of time to get close to consistent; if you manage your time well you can get some improvements, but not high consistency unless you dedicate most available time to pool.

When you practice do not practice easy shots, always practice higher than 1/2 ball hit where ghost ball falls outside the OB, and long distances.

Print every document Dr. Dave wrote, study them closely and apply, they all accurate info.

Always remember pool is the hardest game to master, it has multiple levels of possibilities due to the fact that your aim requires peripheral vision and much smaller target on harder shots unlike Golf, Bowling, Tennis, and dart where the target does not require peripheral vision.

Best of luck.
 
What I did was get a job in the student union working in the pool room and bowling alley so I could get free table time. Second I've always tried to read or watch anything I could get my hands on. Some sources might have conflicting information, but if you learn some of the basic principles it will help your game a lot particularly in regards to banks. Personally I recommend anything by Byrne or Capelle. Third learn and play 14.1. It will teach you to be precise with your position play and patterns.
 
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